Fauji Foundation (lit. 'Soldier Foundation'), also known as Fauji Group, is a Pakistani conglomerate based in Rawalpindi.[1] It is active in fertilizer, cement, food, power generation, gas exploration, LPG marketing and distribution, financial services, security services and provides womb-to-tomb benefits to retired servicemen of Pakistan Armed Forces and their families.[2]
Fauji Foundation was originally set up as a charitable organization to provide employment opportunities to Pakistani ex-military personnel and to generate funds for the welfare of widows, and families of martyrs.[3] It also undertakes welfare projects in education, medical, training, and rehabilitation for military personnel.
History
Fauji Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1954 under the Charitable Endowments Act of 1889.[4] It was established for the welfare of the Pakistan Armed Forces' three branches—Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Army, and Pakistan Air Force—and thus came under the management of the Ministry of Defence.[4] The organization began with an initial paid-up capital of US$3.6 million (Rs 18 million) which it received from British colonial administration for supporting the widows and families of World War II veterans.[2] With the funds it established a textile mill, a cereals mill, and a sugar mill.[4]
In 1960, Fauji Foundation acquired a sugar mill from the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation in Tando Muhammad Khan and later renamed it as Fauji Sugar Mills, Tando Muhammad Khan.[5] It produced sugar under the brand "Crystal".[5] It later also founded a sugarcane research station, named Nukerjee Research Farm.[6]
In 1972, Fauji Foundation acquired a sugar mill in Khoski, Sindh and later renamed it Fauji Sugar Mills, Khoski.[5] It produced sugar under the brand "Shireen".[5] In the same year, Fauji Foundation also acquired a sugar mill based in Sangla Hill from Modern Motors Limited and it produced sugar under the brand "Chandi".[5][7]
In 1974, Fauji Foundation inaugurated Foundation Gas Filling Plant in Rawalpindi.[8] Later, in December 1974, Fauji Foundation inaugurated its third textile mill with equipment imported from China.[9]
In 1980, Fauji Foundation founded an auto workshop in Rawalpindi, named Fauji Autos.[5]
In 1982, Fauji Foundation incorporated Intec Limited to manufacture communication equipment such as trans-receivers and microprocessor-based PABXs in Pakistan.[5] In April 1982, Fauji Foundation established a polypropylene bag manufacturing plant in Hub, Balochistan with an annual production capacity of 16.3 million.[5] In June 1982, the first plant of Fauji Fertilizer Company in Goth Machi became operational.[5] Also, in 1982, Fauji Foundation acquired Fauji Corn Complex in Jehangira which was originally developed by the Sarhad Development Authority.[5] The project went bankrupt in 2012.[10]
In 1983, Fauji Foundation established Fauji Metals in Rawalpindi to manufacture liquid petroleum gas cylinders with a manufacturing capacity of 7,500 cylinders per month.[5] In May 1983, Fauji Foundation acquired a 40 percent stake in state-owned company, Mari Gas Company.[5]
Fauji Foundation business remained relatively modest in scale until the late 1970s when it began to undergo major expansion.[2] The assets of Fauji Foundation increased from Rs 152 million in 1970 to Rs 2,060 million by 1982, with 29 industrial units.[4]
In 2004, Fauji Foundation sold Khoski Sugar Mill for PKR 300 million despite receiving the highest bid of PKR 387 million.[11][12] In 2005, a corruption case was filed in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against then managing director Syed Muhammad Amjad who was involved in the corruption.[13]
From 2011 to 2015, Fauji Foundation's assets grew 78 percent.[14]
A 2017 study found that 33 of a group of 141 former Pakistan Armed Forces corps commanders, or 23.4%, were given jobs by the Foundation after their retirement from the military. At any one time, as many as seven former corps commanders serve as either the managing directors of the Fauji Foundation or the Army Welfare Trust or as managing directors of subsidiaries with personnel in these positions rotated out every three years.[15]
Management
Fauji Foundation is predominantly managed by the Pakistan Army, with about 85-90 percent of these positions filled by retired Army personnel.[4] The managing director is usually a retired Army general, and the board of directors is chaired by the Federal Secretary of Defence, with members drawn from within the organization.[4]
Subsidiaries
Listed
- Fauji Fertilizer Company[16]
- Askari Bank (acquired from Army Welfare Trust)[17]
- Foundation Securities[18]
- Askari Exchange
- Foundation Wind Energy - I[19]
Defunct
Health care
The Fauji Foundation medical system began with the establishment of a 50-bed TB hospital in 1959 at Rawalpindi. On health care, Fauji Foundation spends over 58% of the welfare budget.[56] It is run by former officers of Pakistani Armed Forces.[57]
Education system
With over 130 branches spread from Karachi to Gilgit having approximately 74,897 students, 3,069 teachers and over 1100 administrative staff, the Fauji Foundation Education system is amongst the largest education systems in the country.[58][59] The Fauji Foundation's education system aims to provide education to the children of ex-armed forces personnel, as well as to civilians.[59]
The headquarters of Fauji Foundation is in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[60] FFES is affiliated with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), Islamabad and Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Rawalpindi as well.[61] There are 102 schools (FF model schools) in Pakistan. The Fauji Foundation Colleges For Boys and Girls are located in New Lalazar, Rawalpindi.
List of managing directors
See also
- List of largest companies in Pakistan
- Army Welfare Trust
- Bahria Foundation
- Shaheen Foundation
- Defence Housing Authority
External links
References
- Najad Abdullahi. Pakistani army's '$20bn' business Al Jazeera, retrieved 12 October 2018^
- Frederik Balfour. Pakistan: Armed Forces Inc. Bloomberg, 11 November 2001^
- Industrial development retrieved 6 August 2020